Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.
attired in close fitting garments covered all over with cherubic figures , amongst which we find the human form with that of lions , oxen , eagles , and winged quadrupeds . Her arms from the elbows are extended horizontally , each bearing a lion couchant ;
she had a heavy necklace suspended from her neck , inclosing a crab-fish , and is crowned with two towers one upon the other . The same may be said of the sacred shield of the Romans j the image of Rehea which fell from heaven in a field in Phrygia ;
the palladium of Troy , & c , which were imitated the fictions of other nations . The history of China affords another instance of the universality of the belief that the laws and duties of religion , in order to be entitled to imjilioit credence , must necessarily be derived from heaven , of spirits , and other magical practices , A philosopher called Lao-Kiun , who is
represented as being versed in the arts of divination , invocation conceived the design of reforming the national religion . For this purpose he erected sundry temples , and consecrated them to the ideal spirits , by whose assistance , as he assertedhis miracles were
, performed . These proceedings contributed to increase his popularity , but failed to enlist the leading j > eople of the country in his scheme . He therefore resorted to the jiretext of a divine revelation , and secretly affixed to
the gate of the royal palace a Tablet or book full of hieroglyjmical characters and symbols , and propagated the belief by means of his numerous followers that it had been sent by the gods as a rule of faith and practice for the observance of the Chinese people . The leading jirinciples of this book inculcated an obscure notion of
a trinity . Thus it was said that the fountain of true wisdom was TAO , or eternal reason ; which was ONE ; One produced Two ; Two produced THREE ; and Three produced all things . This proceeding was decisive . The king was converted , and tire sacred Tablet was borne in solemn
procession to the palace and enclosed in a shrine of gold . This tablet was subsequently translated into the Chinese language by Lao-Kiun himself , and contained the following characteristic legend : — " A virgin , inspired by heaven , wandered into the wilderness ,
The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.
became pregnant by a sunbeam , and , although a maid , brought foi-th a son . Being unable to give suck , a Lotus flower came to her floating upon the water , opened itself , received the tender child and suckled it . The motherabsorbed in
, meditation , was conducted by angels to heaven . A holy hermit took the child from the bosom of the flower , and fled with it to Camboya , where it obtained the name of Goclama . At twelve years of age Godama performed miracles , returned to
Siam , preached a new doctrine , and was called or regarded as an incarnation of Buddha . " * In the north of Europe similar pretensions were worked out by a similar process . The reformerwhose name was Si
, gge Fridulfson , having penetrated from the East into the wilds of Scandinavia , assumed the character of a prophet , anel took the name Odin , the chief deity of the country , who was the same as the Phenician Thoth , the Puddha of India ,
the Fo of China , the Mercury of Greece and Rome , and the Hermes of Egypt ; for iu fact the religion of every country under the sun , was nothing more than a modification of the patriarchal scheme , adapted to the circumstance or private views of the individual who first introduced it .
Our Archaological Corner.
Our Archaological Corner .
To the Editor of the MASONIC MAGAZINE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , I think your jiroposition of " keep ing two or three jiages , in future , purely for Masonic Archaeology , '' an excellent idea , and hope it will receive heart y
support at the hands of the brethren . As " example is better than precept , " I have much pleasure in offering as a contribution an exact copy of an Extraordinary Warrant in the possession of the Britannia LodgeNo . 139 Sheffield
, , , ( constituted in 17 G 5 , and numbered 189 under the " Moderns" in 1813 ) , which , I venture to think , is worthy of finding a place therein . Grand Lodge to delegate to a subordi-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.
attired in close fitting garments covered all over with cherubic figures , amongst which we find the human form with that of lions , oxen , eagles , and winged quadrupeds . Her arms from the elbows are extended horizontally , each bearing a lion couchant ;
she had a heavy necklace suspended from her neck , inclosing a crab-fish , and is crowned with two towers one upon the other . The same may be said of the sacred shield of the Romans j the image of Rehea which fell from heaven in a field in Phrygia ;
the palladium of Troy , & c , which were imitated the fictions of other nations . The history of China affords another instance of the universality of the belief that the laws and duties of religion , in order to be entitled to imjilioit credence , must necessarily be derived from heaven , of spirits , and other magical practices , A philosopher called Lao-Kiun , who is
represented as being versed in the arts of divination , invocation conceived the design of reforming the national religion . For this purpose he erected sundry temples , and consecrated them to the ideal spirits , by whose assistance , as he assertedhis miracles were
, performed . These proceedings contributed to increase his popularity , but failed to enlist the leading j > eople of the country in his scheme . He therefore resorted to the jiretext of a divine revelation , and secretly affixed to
the gate of the royal palace a Tablet or book full of hieroglyjmical characters and symbols , and propagated the belief by means of his numerous followers that it had been sent by the gods as a rule of faith and practice for the observance of the Chinese people . The leading jirinciples of this book inculcated an obscure notion of
a trinity . Thus it was said that the fountain of true wisdom was TAO , or eternal reason ; which was ONE ; One produced Two ; Two produced THREE ; and Three produced all things . This proceeding was decisive . The king was converted , and tire sacred Tablet was borne in solemn
procession to the palace and enclosed in a shrine of gold . This tablet was subsequently translated into the Chinese language by Lao-Kiun himself , and contained the following characteristic legend : — " A virgin , inspired by heaven , wandered into the wilderness ,
The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.
became pregnant by a sunbeam , and , although a maid , brought foi-th a son . Being unable to give suck , a Lotus flower came to her floating upon the water , opened itself , received the tender child and suckled it . The motherabsorbed in
, meditation , was conducted by angels to heaven . A holy hermit took the child from the bosom of the flower , and fled with it to Camboya , where it obtained the name of Goclama . At twelve years of age Godama performed miracles , returned to
Siam , preached a new doctrine , and was called or regarded as an incarnation of Buddha . " * In the north of Europe similar pretensions were worked out by a similar process . The reformerwhose name was Si
, gge Fridulfson , having penetrated from the East into the wilds of Scandinavia , assumed the character of a prophet , anel took the name Odin , the chief deity of the country , who was the same as the Phenician Thoth , the Puddha of India ,
the Fo of China , the Mercury of Greece and Rome , and the Hermes of Egypt ; for iu fact the religion of every country under the sun , was nothing more than a modification of the patriarchal scheme , adapted to the circumstance or private views of the individual who first introduced it .
Our Archaological Corner.
Our Archaological Corner .
To the Editor of the MASONIC MAGAZINE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , I think your jiroposition of " keep ing two or three jiages , in future , purely for Masonic Archaeology , '' an excellent idea , and hope it will receive heart y
support at the hands of the brethren . As " example is better than precept , " I have much pleasure in offering as a contribution an exact copy of an Extraordinary Warrant in the possession of the Britannia LodgeNo . 139 Sheffield
, , , ( constituted in 17 G 5 , and numbered 189 under the " Moderns" in 1813 ) , which , I venture to think , is worthy of finding a place therein . Grand Lodge to delegate to a subordi-